You've seen it in college football before: the University of Colorado has a real, live buffalo and the University of Georgia has a real, live bulldog (rest in peace, UGA VI). Even some of the pro teams have followed suit: the Denver Broncos use a horse, the Atlanta Falcons have a live falcon swoop through the Georgia Dome, and the Cleveland Browns have a bunch of, I dunno, these things. And now the Baltimore Ravens want to be the next team that uses a real, live mascot. Coming this season: actual ravens flying around the stadium.

If all goes as planned, at least one of the birds will make an appearance at the team's Westminster training camp next month. And at least one will fly out of a smoky tunnel at M&T Bank Stadium ahead of the players when the Ravens face the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7, and at every home game thereafter.

The season opener will mark not just the dawning of the John Harbaugh coaching era, but a new Baltimore tradition.